Electrically-controlled system for moving-picture theaters.



J. H. HIRSHBERG. ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED SYSTEM FOR movmc PICTURE THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2, 19]]. 1,160,714. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

l l l l awveutoz Julius fiermarny ,/z'nwbery 6 Noam,

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cn.,wAsmNGToN, b, c.

J. H. HIRSHBERG. ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED SYSTEM FOR MOVING PICTURE THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2. 191].

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- Snow view cfklz'us Herman Him/25w? coLuAmlA PLANOGRAPH C0,.WASHINGTDN, D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS H. HIBSHBERG, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRICALLY-CONTROLLED SYSTEM FOR MOVING-PICTURE THEATERS.

Application filed October 2, 1911.

In accordance with my invention the moving picture machine is operated without the aid of an attendant and after the picture is shown the machine'is stopped and other instrumentalities set in operation, such as a graphophone and a dissolving stereopticon.

,After these have operated for a' suitable length of time they are stopped and the moving picture machine put in operation again to show the next picture. After this picture has been shown, the moving picture machine is stopped and the lights turned on and a piano or other instrument operated, for intermission. The entire system operates without the aid of human agency.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a system of the above mentioned character, which is automatic in operation, reliable and not sub ect to derangements.

Other objects and advantages of the pres- 'ent invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like .numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the system, showing the various circuits, and, Fig. 2 is a plan view of a clock mechanism included in the system.

Surrounding the fiber ring 2 is a brass ring Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

Serial N0. 652,241.

3, to which are attached pins 1 carrying numerals which run from one to twentyfour, to designate all the hours of the day.

The numeral 5 designates an hour hand and the numeral 6 a minute hand. The hand 5 travels the distance between two hour marks while the hand 6 makes a complete revolution of the disk. Any suitable mechanism may be employed to move the hands 5 and 6, preferably that found in the ordinary electrically operated clock.

My system may be employed to operate a moving picture theater during every hour of the day or during any selected hour or hours. Disposed between the hour marks are contacts 7, 8 and 9, which are insulated from the brass ring 3 and from each other. These contacts are held stationary by any suitable means. The hour hand 5 may preferably be provided with a platinum tip or point 10, which makes contact with the contacts 7 to 9. The hour hand 5 is insulated from the hand 6, disk 1 and associated elements.

The numeral 11 designates a source of current, having one pole thereof connected with the hour hand 5 by a wire 12. The other pole of this source of current is connected with a common wire 13, with which are connectedwires 14, 15 and 16. Each of the, wires 14, 15 and 16 have electroanagnets 17 of a relay connected in series therewith, as shown. The wires 14, 15 and 16 extend upwardly beyond these relays and are horizontally disposed in parallel relation, the wire 16 being uppermost, the wire 1 1 intermediate, and the wire 15 lowermost, as shown. The segments 7 are connected with the wire 15 by wires 18, the segments 8 are connected with the wire 16 by wires 19 and the segments 9 are connected with the wire 14 by wires 20.

The numerals 21 and 22 designate main feed wires having connection with wires 23 and 24, respectively. The flow of current through wires 23 and 24 is controlled by a manually operated switch 25. The relays comprise inverted substantially U-shaped armatures 26, adapted to engage contacts 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32, when the electro-magnets 17 are energized. Connected with the wire 24 are wires 33, 34 and. 35, connected respectively with the contacts 28, 30 and 32, as shown. Connected with the contacts 27,

"prised insaid machine;

29 and 31, arewires 36, 37 and 38, respectively. The wires 37 and 38 are connected with the wire 23. Connected in parallel between the wires 23 and 36 are a suitable number of electric lamps 39, such as incandescent lamps. piano 40 or other musical instrument is also connected in parallel between these Wires. Connected in series with the wire 34 is amotor 41 for operating the moving picture machine and an automatic arc lamp 42 com- Connected in se'ries with "the wire is'a motor 43 to operate means which move the slides of a dissolving steieepti'con.

The ni'ini'e'ral 44 designates automatic are lamps or the dissolving stereoptic'on, which lamps are connected in series with the wire The motor 43 may be employed to open ate means for turning OH and on the arc lamps 44, as is customary in causing the picture to fade away while another is being thrown on the canvas. I

The operation of thesystein is as follows :'A-'ssumi ng that the system is de signed to operate between seven and eight 'p; n11, when the hour hand 5 is inev'ed into engagement Wltli the @Ofltadt 7, a Ciro 111i, Will be "closed and current will flow from one side of the source of "ciir'rent 14, throi'igh wire 12,

hand 5, contact 7, wire 18, wire 15, elect-romagnets 17 in series therewith, and throii gh wire 13 back to the source of current. The electro-magiiets 17 thus become energized and draw the armature 2 6 downward-1y to engage contacts 29 and 30. This engagement continnes as long as the hand 5 engages the segment 7," which depends of course, upon the width of said contact 7. Current will now flow from the main wire 22 through wire 24, wire 34, motor 41, and

are lamp 42 connected in series therewitlli, tl-iro-ugh Contact "30-, armature 26", contact 29, wire 37 and through the wire 23 back to the wire 21. The motor 41 is thus set in operatidn 'to operate the moving picture machine including the arc lamp 42, which is now lighted. Whenthe hand 5 disengages the contact 7 the lastreferred to'circuit is opened and theha'nd 5 engages contact 8 to close a new circuit. In this circuitcurrent will now from one sidedf the source of current 11, through wire 12, hand 5, segment 8, wire 19, wire 16, he ero-magnets 1-7 of the lowermost relay, and through wire 13-, ba'clrto the "source of cii'rrent 11. The electro-ma gnets 17 are now energized and draw the armature 26 down to engage contacts 31 and-32. The current will now flow rrom the main wire '22, through wire 24, wire 35 and motor 43 and are lamps '44 connected in series therewith, contact 32, armature 26, contact 31, wire 38, and through wire 23 back to wire 21. The motor 43 is thus set in operation to drive the dissolving stereopticon, comprising the An electrically operated arc lamps 44. A person may now sing to accompany the slide pictures or the inotor 43 may be employed to drive a graphophone operating synchronously with the dissolving stere'opti'c'on' "Vhen the hand 5 travels off of the contact 8, the last named circuit is opened and the motor 43 stoppedand the arc lamps 44 put out. The hand 5 now engages the next segment 7 whereby circuits are closed for again operating the motor 41 for driving the moving picture machine. VVhe-n the hand 5 disengages contact '7 the same subsequently engages contact anda circuit is closed to energize th'e-upp'erinost relay. In this circuitv cn rrent fiows feom one side of the source of current 11, through wire 12, hand 5, segment 9, wire 20, Wire 14,.e1ectro:1nagnets 17,

and through wire 13 back to the oppositepole of the son-roe of current; Thearmature 26 is now engaging contacts 27 and 28, whereby current will flow from wire 22, through wire 24, wire '33, contact 28, armature 26, contact 27, wire 36, lamps 39 and piano 4'0, and through the wire 23 back to the wire '21. The lights will now be lighted for intermission, and the -'autom'atic piano 40 '01 other musical instrument set in operation. The operation is continued during all or selected hours. i

I wish it understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred exam le of the same and that certain changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted "to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 7 1 In an electrically operated system for theate'rs, a plurality of insulated stationary contacts, a movable contact arm 'to travel in engagement with the contacts to close' ci-remits, a so'nr e of current having "one pole connected with the contact (arm, a feed 'wi're connected with the "opposite pole of the sourceof'cur rent, a plurality of branch wires connected with the feed wire and connected with the stationary contacts, relays connect ed in the branch wires, main feed and re -c tutn wires, 'inai n branch 'wire's connected across the main feed and le'tii r n wires and having circuits through them opened and closed by the relays, and translating devices connected in each of the main branch wires.

2. In an 'eleotri'oaliy operated system :Eor theater's, a plur'ality of se'ts'of stationaryco'nmots of difi eren-t widths for providing different ,periods of contact, a movable contact arm to travel in engagement with the contacts, a source of current having one pole conneeted with the contaot 'arm, a 'feed wire connected 'with 'the opposite pole of the source of current,a plurality of branch wires connected with the feed wire and "connected with the sets of stationary contacts, relays lating devices connected in one of the main 10 connected in the branch wires, main feed branch wires.

and return wires, main branch wires adapt- In testimony whereof I aifix my signature ed to be connected across the main feed and in presence of two Witnesses.

return wires, translating devices connecting JULIUS H HIRSHBERG one main branch wire with the main return Wire, means associated with the main branch Witnesses:

Wires whereby circuits are opened and closed DAISIE E. HIRSHBERG, through them by the relays, and other trans- ANTONIA I. JENSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

